Page 53 of The Breath Before Forever

No matter.

Vaslav wouldn’t care. He had so much money, and had become accustomed to that wealth in such a way that he barely thought about it. He wouldn’t run out. Their proverbial bank account was a bottomless pit.

He would notice the spending, however—and Vera could deal with that. Nonetheless ... he wouldn’t care. Hell, he’d paid his mother to keep her under control for years.

Hannah scratched at the base of her neck, saying, “I don’t want to take your money.”

“It’s not taking my money. I’m giving it.”

That ended that. Vera didn’t bother to explain how, eventually, a certain business in the city that meant a great deal to both her and Hannah would also belong to her. She had plans for The Swan House, selfishly selfless and beautiful dreams that she didn’t even dare speak about yet. Those same plans and dreams would someday benefit Hannah, too.

Official notices from estate barristers had come through on papers with all the legal letterheads attached at the top—her own lawyer, compliments of a legal team she hadn’t even realized Vaslav kept on the payroll, stepped in to handle the middleman details.

Vera never saw a cop.

Didn’t speak to a musor.

In fact, if she didn’t occasionally see the marked and unmarked vehicles—although, still obvious by their blacked-out windows and attached lights—she wouldn’t know police even existed in her world. Never mind captains and detectives piecing together an already cold crime scene.

Feliks’ body still had not been found.

Vaslav had been right—it was all a waiting game.

“I’m finally learning how to drive the Hummer, by the way, but I called the car service for a driver this week. Maybe next, I’ll try the trip myself.”

Unlikely.

Vera was a big fan of wishful thinking.

“And?” Hannah asked.

“I’m trying to change the subject so you’ll stop looking so sad for a minute. Don’t let what other people think or feel about your pregnancy ruin the way you smiled when I told you all the tests were positive.”

Hannah let out a little laugh.

Weak as it was ...

Vera shrugged one shoulder, smiling a bit herself. “I know you were scared, and you didn’t even want to tell anybody right away, but a part of you was happy, too. That’s what your baby deserves. For their mother to just be happy.”

Hannah’s shoulders lifted and dropped with the weight of her next breath. “Yeah, I’m trying.”

“Did you tell Igor yet?”

The expression darkening Hannah’s face told Vera the answer. She had not.

“Not for lack of trying,” Hannah explained. “He hasn’t called me in a week, and that last time we spoke ... I get the impression he’s busy, but it’s not like he told me with what. So, I left a few messages. He’s supposed to come around tonight.”

Shit.

Guilt gnawed harder on Vera’s soul.

“I really should have called first, huh?”

Hannah shrugged, helpless but smiling.

A little.

“It’s all right,” she said.